Hope

by Sam Rook

  Kathryn cleaned up and scrambled to pull her clothes on. She heard footsteps coming toward them and remembered the light spell. It was like a beacon announcing their location. Now that they were both clothed, she pushed Sir Lanclor up against the wall and turned toward the entrance to the aisle, spreading her wings to block Hal's view.

  She severed the power of her light spell and welcomed the darkness that hid her red face. Walking to the opening, she emitted what she hoped sounded like a surprised squeak as she almost collided with Hal.

  "Hal, you scared me. I was...busy. What's up?" She flashed him a forced smile.

  "I couldn’t sleep and when you didn't answer my knock, I just assumed you would be here. I'll grab some books and we can pass what's left of our free time trying to find a way to survive the next 12 hours. Kathryn stood with her mouth open, not sure how to stop him without arousing his suspicion as he pushed past her toward the back of the bookshelves.

  Chapter 47

  Lanclor watched Hal approach and decided on his course of action. There was no point in keeping everything a secret. Lady Kathryn had made her intentions clear and he wasn't going to dishonor her. Stepping forward, he met Hal's advance.

  Hal startled and ceased his progress. "Hey. I'm sorry, but I didn't realize anyone else was in here with Kate." He backed up allowing Lanclor to step into the dim light emanating from the light globe over the desk beyond the bookshelves. "My name's Hal and you are?"

  Lanclor realized Hal hadn't ever seen him without his helmet. "I believe we've already been introduced, Hal." Lanclor raised his black wings and watched recognition enter Hal's eyes.

  "Sir Lanclor. I didn't recognize you." He glanced back at Lady Kathryn, his eyes sliding to her neck where Lanclor's stubble had rubbed a red streak against her milky skin. The blush on Lady Kathryn's cheeks matched her neck. Hal tore his gaze from her and looked at Lanclor with wide eyes.

  "That's okay, Hal, I wouldn't expect you to." Lanclor suppressed a smile. "Lady Kathryn and I were just leaving. You should get some sleep before the battle. Be safe, Hal."

  Lanclor held his arm out to Kathryn and she gripped it in a daze. They headed toward the exit.

  "Um, be safe." Hal muttered behind them.

  A short while later Lanclor lay with Lady Kathryn in his private quarters. In several hours, they would need to put on their armor and head to battle. They both needed to get some rest. With one of her legs over his and her breasts against the left side of his chest, he felt at peace for the first time in a decade.

  "I wish you would have just told me who you were months ago." Kathryn’s tired voice mumbled.

  Lanclor knew how she felt. If he could experience more than just one night of this, he could die happy. "I do too." They couldn’t change the past even with magic. "Get some sleep. You’ll need your energy in the morning."

  "Mmmhmm." Her hand twitched against his chest as her breathing evened. Lanclor smiled with the sound of her soft snore and allowed his mind to drift.

  Hours later, he awoke to a familiar voice inside his head.

  Lanclor? Are you awake?

  "Lak'oth ar'vat." Lanclor whispered the communication spell. I am now, Alextor.

  Oh, I'm sorry to wake you. I wanted to go over the attack plan with you one more time before you leave.

  Kathryn sighed and snuggled closer against him. Her hair tickled his chest and he reached up to feel its softness against his fingertips. I’m a little busy right now. How much longer do we have?

  About two hours. What do you mean you’re busy? I thought you were sleeping, before I woke you up that is...

  Lanclor smiled. Give me a half hour and I’ll meet you in the war room.

  Okay. I expect a full report.

  Lanclor snorted and felt Kathryn start with the sudden motion of his chest.

  "What’s going on?" she muttered as she pulled her hand away from his chest to tuck her hair behind her ear.

  He covered her hand with his after she put it back on his chest over his heart. "Lord Alextor wants to go over the battle plans. We’ll be leaving in a couple of hours."

  Kathryn laced her fingers through his and squeezed before responding. "I need to get going. I want to look through my notes before we leave. Maybe there’s a spell I missed." She pushed herself up so she was looking down upon him. She leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss, pulling away just enough to break the contact between their lips. "I’ll find a way."

  Lanclor reached up and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "I’ll see you in a couple hours. Be safe, Kate."

  "Be safe, Lan."

  He closed his eyes in satisfaction. That name upon her lips showed she had accepted who he was. His given name was Matthis, but now he was the Soulbearer, Lanclor.

  Chapter 48

  The Last Battle Sight filled the few hours of sleep Kathryn had with Sir Lanclor. Sir Lanclor’s horse continued to die several times that night. Different scenarios occurred, all ending in failure.

  In one scenario, she went to Sir Lanclor’s rescue and prevented him from dying by the initial attack of the Daemons, but the Daemons overpowered them and he bled to death trapped beneath his charger. In another, she repetitively cast high-level lightning spells, but exhausted herself before they defeated even half of the Daemons. She fell from the sky and they consumed her while still alive. After this last scenario, she was glad to remain awake, unable to close her eyes without feeling the Daemon’s fangs ripping chunks out of her body.

  After a quick bath back in her room, she suited up, sensing the time approaching. Her armor fit comfortably and she strapped her sword to her side. She stood, ready to face everything the dark and early morning offered. A knock sounded upon her door and she opened it to see Hal in full armor.

  "Milady Kathryn, the battle will begin shortly and we’re needed." He offered her his arm and they walked together down to the courtyard. "So, you and Sir Lanclor, huh?" Hal’s tone revealed the grin beneath his helmet.

  "Don’t even say it, Hal." She glared at him and he pretended not to notice. They continued in silence until they parted ways and Kathryn met up with Sir Garrent who escorted her to her new squad of graywings.

  "Derrek thought you’d be more comfortable with those graywings who accompanied you at Southker. While there are only a dozen of them left, they’re some of the more powerful mages, and they volunteered to serve with you," Sir Garrent said with pride. "Both of our squads will be following the main party in the rear. After we’re past Ralenth and the signal is given, my squad will move forward to cover the ground units for the initial assault while your squad will continue to hang back. We'll call you when we need you. At that time, you’ll need to blast them with what you can to allow us a chance to regroup."

  She nodded her understanding. Sir Garrent returned the nod, and then moved toward his squad. When she reached her squad, she looked into the eyes of thirty competent graywings. Each helmeted head nodded when she met their eye, showing her that they acknowledged her role in this battle. She Communicated the orders to all of them, careful to leave nothing out. They all understood and prepared for the battle ahead, each in their own way—some with prayer, others with complete silence.

  The thunder of 480 horses, the eight mounted squads of sixty each, sounded to their left as the mounted forces exited the South Gate. The winged squads remained in the West courtyard, awaiting the signal to take flight. Lord Alextor gave the signal to the five brown and gray mixed squads, 250 knights, and the wind from their wings stirred the hair of the villagers who had gathered to see the knights depart. Garrent gave the order after all five squads were aloft, and their squads, totaling sixty graywings, leapt into the air, beating their wings in practiced unison.

  Chapter 49

  Lanclor could feel Laktalin’s controlled energy beneath him, a slight hesitation in his step. His mount would have loved to begin the charge now, but Lanclor made sure to keep his reins short. They had quite a ways to go and he had no desire to tire him befor
e the battle.

  Lanclor remembered when he first saw Laktalin, throwing Hook to the ground when Hook had tried to mount him for the first time. Laktalin hadn’t been broken and refused to let anyone upon his back. Lanclor had taken over Hook’s "impossible task" and earned Laktalin’s trust. He’d been a loyal mount ever since, not allowing any other knight upon his back.

  Lanclor patted his neck, assuring him that they would soon charge into battle together. What a historical battle it would be. They would surely be outnumbered and a victory would be costly, but they had no choice. This was the only option they had to stand a chance against the Daemon horde. The knights couldn’t sit in the castle hoping the Daemons would change their minds and go home. The Daemons wouldn't go home until they stripped this world and the next of life.

  Lanclor glanced above him through the night, his Night Vision spell showing him the winged squads above. They flew in perfect unison, circling when needed to avoid passing the ground troops, conserving their strength by gliding.

  He felt comforted by their presence, knowing the winged squads would spot any foe unseen by the ground forces. The air was crisp, but far from freezing—the perfect temperature for a long march. It was then that he noticed it.

  Not a sound escaped from the squads. The usual sound of quiet singing and the suppressed laughter of a shared joke were missing. The Knight-Commander looked around at his knights, noticing the haunted, yet determined eyes. It reminded him of Lady Kathryn’s Last Battle Sight. He felt his thoughts melt away any eagerness for the battle, replacing that eagerness with a foreboding as he again patted the neck of Laktalin.

  Chapter 50

  The trek between Ralenth and Hopent dragged as in her mind Kathryn replayed the different scenarios from last night’s Sights. Using nothing but high-level lightning spells would exhaust her. She had to vary her spells as much as possible, only using the lightning spells on the armored Daemons. She'd have to use another spell, one less draining, on the other Daemons.

  They glided as much as possible to conserve their strength and to avoid passing the ground units. The trip to Ralenth was uneventful; the only sound that of the horses’ hooves and the knights' wings. The ground from Ralenth to Hopent was flat and only a few miles long.

  Squad leaders, cast a dampening spell on your squads to muffle the sound of our passage. Sir Lanclor’s voice sounded within her mind.

  Lak’oth ent’yart. She cast a dampening spell so they wouldn’t disturb the night and alert the Daemons to their presence.

  Sir Garrent received the order to move to the front some time later and Kathryn focused on nothing but the knights around her, making sure everything went as planned. They saw the dead village of Hopent on the horizon. An order appeared to pass through the ground troops and they began to gallop toward the bridge.

  Lanclor’s squad reached it first and crossed to the other side, fanning out with their backs to the bridge, ready for any foe on the opposite shore. Garrent’s squad hovered above the bridge awaiting any form of attack that may fall upon them or Lanclor. Two more squads had crossed the bridge before the Daemons emerged. Hundreds of them flooded from the trees, some taking to the air while many remained on the ground to advance toward the squads guarding the south side of the bridge.

  Sir Garrent’s squad cast multiple shield spells around the defending mounted squads, falling back to allow Hook and two of the other mixed winged squads to protect them from the incoming Daemons while they prepared more spells. Hal and the other winged squads prepared to protect Lanclor’s squads from the air, relying on the squads behind them to protect their backs.

  In the time it took the Daemons to engage Lanclor’s squads, two more squads were thundering across the bridge. Close behind were the last three squads. It looked like all of the squads would make it to the other side. The Daemons and knights met with a thundering clash of metal. Sir Lanclor and his squads strove to drive the Daemons back to make room for the squads coming across the bridges. So far, it looked like none of the Daemons wore armor.

  They thought the unarmored Daemons were the scouts and lower level troops. Lanclor, working with all of the winged squads, drove the Daemons back enough to allow all eight squads to exit the bridge. Now that they were all across it was time to regroup.

  Lady Kathryn, we require your assistance, Lanclor communicated in her mind.

  Lak’oth ar’vat. Yes, sir. We’re on our way. She shifted the focus of her spell to her squad. Time to make our entrance. They soared over the bridge and came to the forefront of the battle, the other squads parting before them.

  Now, attack with everything you have. Let’s not give any of the Daemons a chance even to look at anyone else, Kathryn ordered.

  Fire and ice spells cast by thirty graywings ripped through the ranks of Daemons on the ground and in the air. As Daemons fell from the skies into the river, the Daemons continued to come, but drastically slowed down. Her squad roared in triumph, calling more spells to kill as many Daemons as possible as the creatures spread apart, finding paths to wade through their fallen.

  The knights' ground forces had regrouped and prepared to advance. As Kathryn moved to the rear of her squad to recover and ready another spell, she saw the unthinkable. Hundreds of armored Daemons rose from the trees on the opposite side of the river. The knights’ confidence in the element of surprise and the Daemons’ poor night vision would be their downfall. The Daemons had them surrounded, their most powerful forces at the knights' rear.

  Lak’oth ar’vat. She directed her mind to all of the knights. Armored Daemons at the rear, diamond formation! My squad, to the rear! They were the best defenders against armored Daemons.

  Sir Garrent and Hal’s squads remained at the front while Hook joined her at the back.

  Let’s show these bastards that they won’t get the best of us. Hook growled in their minds, forming up around them to allow them the protection of his Browns while they prepared their higher level spells.

  The armored Daemons pounded their ranks, felling many knights in their first and furious onslaught. Daemon fire annihilated one of the squads to the left of Hook and it fell in clumps into the river below.

  F’enk’e’alath shel’an’re melan’keltoh sel’anthia. Kathryn and her squad threw up dozens of fire shields, determined not to let any more squads fall that way.

  "Lir’eth kanen’entilix falo’entili’ai vel’on." They cast lightning spells aloud in unison, joining them to enhance them tenfold and throwing them to the back of the Daemon horde to eliminate the threat of hitting any knights.

  Over half of the armored Daemons to their rear fell to the ground, shriveling as they dropped. The remaining ones hit their brown lines with fury, but the knights eventually brought them down, eliminating the threat to their backs.

  So caught up in the battle, the winged squads failed to notice the Daemon fire consuming the bridge until it was too late. Its boards fell into the river, hissing and smoking as they touched the water. The ground forces now had no means of retreat without leaving their horses, which they would never do. While they removed the threat from their rear, the battle continued in the front.

  The attack from the north shore distracted them enough for more armored Daemons to attack the mounted squads from the south. Three of the mounted squads had already fallen. They’re dying horses screamed with their riders. Lanclor’s squads could no longer advance, doing everything they could to defend themselves from the enemy.

  The dawn light revealed their deaths in the valley before them. Thousands of Daemons poured out of a portal, all armored and prepared for battle. Kathryn's mind raced, looking for some way out of this losing battle. The Daemons took flight. Like swarms of locusts, they all but blocked out the light from the rising sun.

  Just then, she heard a scream of a horse above the chaos. She turned her attention below to see Lanclor’s charger fall, its rider trapped beneath.

  "No, this can't be happening." Kathryn felt her chest tighten and struggled
to hold back her tears. The Last Battle Sight. The Sight always ended in Lanclor’s fall, signifying the fall of the Knighthood. She couldn't let that happen.

  Lak’oth ar’vat. Everyone, rally around Sir Lanclor! We will not fall! As one, all of the winged squads dove toward Lanclor and the remaining mounted squads, casting shield spells as they went, creating a protective wall around the last of the defenders. The winged squads landed in waves, surrounding the mounted squads, allowing them a chance to rest. They maintained impenetrable shields around them, knowing they would all die when the shields failed.

  Looking at the scene around her, Kathryn couldn’t help but feel despair. With the bridge on fire, there was no hope of retreat. On fire. No hope. Fire. Hope. The portal. No, not a portal, a gate. It all became clear. Would it work?

  Kathryn approached Lanclor, knowing the shield spells would only last another few minutes. She went around his horse so she could look him in the eye.

  "The battle is lost. There’s no hope," he said, bleeding from several wounds with his left arm at an odd angle, his leg trapped beneath his dead horse.

  "There's hope." Bending over to touch her hand to his chest, she said for his ears alone, "Forgive me, Lan." Lak’oth lenk’enterun ent’me’ant zele’funt lak’oth. Kathryn backed away, breaking eye contact with him before she lost her resolve.

  Lak’oth ar’vat. She focused on her squad around her. Everyone, back up and form a ring around me. Keep everyone clear. In her mind, she thought of all the hope in the hearts of the people of Av’lor. Hope burning in their souls. Hope. Burning. She spread her wings and arms.

  F’enk’e’elath shel’an’re melan’keltoh lak’oth falo’entili’ai pho’nel’xelan cor’tentia ka’la’o’elath. As she cast the Phoenix Fire spell, blue fire rippled around her body. She became a blue inferno waiting to consume the Daemons, focusing all of her fury, all of her despair, on the Daemons pictured in her mind.